Cow-hopple.



No. 664,838. Patented Jan. I, l90l. D. T. DEAN.

60W HOPPLE.

{Application filed my 1, 1900.]

(No Model.)

Wii asses NITED STATES PATENT firms.

DANIEL T. DEAN, OF RUDD, IOWA;

COW-HOPPLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 664,838, dated January 1, 1901.

Application filed May 1, 1900. Serial No. 15,090. (No mod'elfi To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that l, DANIEL T. DEAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rudd, in the county of Floyd and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Gow-Hopple, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to hopples; and the 7 object of the same is to provide a simple and efiective device of this character having a positive application and adapted to retain its position on the leg of a cow to prevent the latter from kicking and injuring a milker or wasting the milk, the several parts being strong and durable and capable of adjustment to suit different cows.

The invention consists in the construction and arrangement of the several parts, which will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

Figure 1 is a view of a portion of a cow, showing the manner of applying the improved device. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the improved hopple.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts in the views.

The numeral 1 designates a pair of bars,-

preferably formed of wood and connected at top and bottom by metallic bowed straps 2 and 3, which are rigid, the ends of each strap being rebent to fit over the edges of the bars. The bars diverge toward their upper ends, and consequently the lower strap 3 is smaller than the upper one to thereby conform and be adaptable to upper and lower portions of the leg of a cow on which the improved device is intended to be used. To the inner bar 1 when the device is applied the ends of the two extremities 4 of a bifurcated or split strap 5 are secured and spaced apart to obtain a better holding purchase and also to fit over the rear portion of the leg of the animal without injury, but with a sufficient tension to accomplish the desired result. The main portion of the strap 5 is formed with a series of apertures 6 to adjustably engage a hook 7, secured to the outer side of the other bar 1. The extremities 4C of the strap 5 are attached to their bar on opposite sides of the center of the latter in a vertical direction, and in the application of the improved device it is fitted to the front side of the right hind leg, with the metallic strap 2 above and the strap 3 below the gambrel-jointand the bars 1 on the outer and inner sides of the latter. The bifurcated portion of the strap 5 is then brought around the rear, as shown by Fig. l, and so that the extremities 4 thereof will bind at points above and below the rear projection of said joint or book and said strap 5 made fast by proper adjustment to the hook 7. When the device is thus arranged, it will be observed that it will be impossible for the cow to kick or bend the hoppled leg in an effort to do so, and the milker will therefore be protected and waste of milk avoided. It will also be seen that the improved device can be easily applied and removed and that no injurious result will be possible in view of the smooth surfaces of the several parts which bear against the leg of the animal, and the bifurcated portion of the strap prevents the device from slipping out of its applied position. The strap being adjustable relatively to the book 7 adapts the improved device to legs of difierent cows, which vary in shape and general contour.

The improved device requires a comparatively small amount of material in its manufacture and is strong and light.

Though the preferred form of the hopple has been shown and described, it is obviously apparent that changes in the form, size, and proportions can be resorted to without departing from the principle of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, What is claimed as new is- In a hopple, the combination of a pair of rigid bars held in fixed spaced relation to each other by upper and lower rigid bowed metallic straps which are extended forwardly, the lower bowed strap being smaller than the upper one and the said bars gradually diverging from the said lower strap to the upper one, the rear of the hopple between the two bars being completely open to permit application thereof to the front portion of the leg of the animal so that the bars will bear closely against the inner and outer side portions of the latter, a strap having a bifurcated extremity with the two members secured to one bar above and below the center of the latter and respectively bearing against the upper and lower portions of the joint of the leg of the animal at the rear when applied, the opposite extremity of the strap being single, and my own i haye hereto affixed my signature in a hook on the outer central portion of the the presence of two witnesses.

other bar 1 or adjustable engagement with the single extremity of the said strap, the strap 1 5 as an entirety being applied around the rear Witnesses:

portion of the leg of the animal solely. G. W. PIERCE,

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as DEXTER DEAN.

DANIEL T. DEAN. 

